Each year Honda holds an internal design competition, pitting their various design studios against each other to create blue-sky concepts. The winner of this year's Honda Global Design Project is Project 2&4, created by two Honda teams that were apparently allowed to collaborate: Their Asaka-based motorcycle design studio and their Wako-based automobile design studio.

The 2&4 is certainly different. The aim of the concept, according to Honda, was "to create an intense driving experience by combining the most thrilling elements of riding a motorcycle with the most engaging characteristics of driving a car."

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While the vehicle has four wheels and the stability of a car, the sound of the 1-liter V4 would unmistakably be that of a motorcycle (specifically, the RC213V engine used by their motorcycle racing teams). To heighten the sensation, "the driver's seat [is] uniquely suspended just above the road. The 'floating seat' design places the driver as close to the action as possible, evoking the freedom of a bike and completing the immersion provided by [the vehicle's] extreme performance, [with a] 14,000 rpm red line and unique engineering."

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The hybrid design has had a (perhaps calculated) doubling effect on Honda publicity: The 2&4 has been picked up by seemingly every motorcycle and car blog on Earth.

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The vehicle will be on display, Honda has announced, later this month at the Frankfurt Motor Show.